Filmmaker Who Signed Kumbh Mela Fame Monalisa Held In Rape Case

Sanoj Mishra, a 45-year-old filmmaker known for offering a film role to viral sensation Monalisa Bhosle during the Kumbh Mela, has been arrested in connection with a rape case. The arrest came after the Delhi High Court rejected his bail application. On March 30, 2024, the director was apprehended by Delhi Police in Ghaziabad. The arrest was made following intelligence gathering and technical surveillance. Mishra, who resides in Mumbai with his family, was taken into custody by officers from Nabi Karim Police Station.

Filmmaker Who Signed Monalisa from Kumbh Mela Held in Rape Case

The case revolves around a 28-year-old woman from a small town who accused Mishra of repeatedly raping her over four years. She claimed that during this time, she lived with Mishra in Mumbai, hoping to build a career in the film industry. According to her complaint, Mishra forced her to undergo abortions three times and failed to keep his promise of marriage. She formally recorded her statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), strengthening the case against him.

The woman reported that on February 18, 2025, Mishra took her to Hotel Shiva in the Nabi Karim area of Delhi. There, he allegedly engaged in physical relations with her before abandoning her, prompting her to file a police complaint. Medical evidence related to the alleged abortions was collected from Muzaffarnagar, further supporting the case. Following the investigation, an FIR was registered on March 6, 2024, under multiple charges, including rape, assault, forced miscarriage, and criminal intimidation.

Mishra’s Previous Media Attention

Mishra previously made headlines when he cast 16-year-old Monalisa Bhosle, a viral star from the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, in his film The Diary of Manipur. Monalisa, who spent years selling flowers in Maheshwar, a town in Khargone, had her life take a dramatic turn when she began filming for The Diary of Manipur in February. This opportunity marked a significant shift, transforming her from a humble flower seller to a rising star in the entertainment industry.

Earlier, Sanoj Mishra had met with Monalisa and her family to discuss the details of the project, though the specifics of their conversation remained private. Sanoj Mishra took to Instagram to announce Monalisa's involvement in The Diary of Manipur. In the video, Monalisa expressed her excitement, saying, “I am very happy. We will work hard... only through hard work will we progress.” Sanoj shared his thoughts, stating, “These people are very innocent, they are from the Banjara community! I was impressed by her natural innocence and simplicity, but what happened afterwards was disturbing and unsettling. So, I sought her out and met her family to discuss the film and everything related to it. I now feel a greater responsibility to guide her career. We’ll begin a workshop in Indore for two weeks, after which she’ll move to Mumbai for continued training.”

He further explained, “We will kick off the film in London with Amit Rao for a week, and then from April, we’ll shoot the entire film in Manipur. It’s a story of love and violence, and after the training, Monalisa will join the cast as the lead actress.”

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Sanoj emphasised, “Her simplicity is what made her go viral, and we want to present her the same way. In this era of reels and social media, I want to show that an innocent girl from the Banjara community can become an actor and succeed. This is my response to those who tried to exploit her to gain viral fame."